Wednesday, December 11, 2013

‘Paskong Pinas’ and Korea’s Christmas

Christmas Traditions

Christmas is a fresh, new custom in
Korea.

Koreans are officially Buddhist but
because of growing Christianity in Korea, they celebrate Christmas similarly to
the way Filipino Christians or Catholic celebrate it. We both put up
Christmas trees, exchange presents, stores do put up holiday decorations,
families attend mass or a church service on Christmas Eve or Christmas day (or
both), and caroling were everywhere. While Koreans festivities start
much closer to Christmas day we festival lover Filipinos celebrate it with much
grandiose and passion starting from ‘Ber’ months.

Christmas
Holiday

Which Buddhist country declare Christmas
as public holiday but Korea! It seems that we both celebrate the happiest season of the year with such importance, passion
and love.

However Korea reverses Christmas and
New Year’s Eve in terms of company or with whom they celebrate these two public
holidays. For them New Year’s Eve is for family. Christmas is for young
couples. While for Filipinos Christmas is for family reunions and we rock New
Year with friends!

Couples’
Day

Christmas in Korea is considered a
romantic holiday for couples. Theme parks, restaurants, shopping streets were
jam-packed by couples and many Christmas events and show everywhere. Many
younger people celebrate and party on Christmas with friends and spend New
Year's Day with their families (the reverse to Christmas/New Year's in Pinas).

Holiday
Fashion

Both teen and young adults Koreans show
off the hottest winter fashions, usually involving miniskirts or short shorts
paired with boots and finely tailored top. Boots, mufflers, knitted
top and high socks were all extremely fashionable.

Come to think of it,we don’t
have winter in Pinas, we do have cold weather tough and Pasko in Pinas is for
kids and kids at heart! Children have new clothes, new shoes and new wallet or
tiny bag for the customary money gift. This time of year create such special
memories for children. Grownups
have new items too but unlike kids where everything is new. Well, If kids were getting
geared up for the holiday season, we should be too!

Some can be a bit gaudy, and even wear
Santa Claus outfit, whether sexy Santa or traditional custom, but really, who
cares?! Christmas is a gaudy holiday. Where else can you see that glittery
green, gold and red work together? It’s a time to push the pause
button on our fashion sense, cynicism and snobbery and enjoy some simple cheesy
pleasures!

Christmas
Food

If Ham is popular in the Philippines,
Christmas cake is well-liked and well loved in Korea. Christmas cake design is
as trendy as their fashion sense and the more complicated the design is, the
better.

On the other side,for non-Christian
Koreans and practical Filipinos, Christmas is too commercialized maybe because
of the massive sales of goods, overly advertised products, and there is too
much pressure for decorations. I, for one, don’t celebrate Christmas as
Christian do, but I’m grateful for the holiday and extra time for my
family and I love the idea of having a
craft, an event, a gift, or a special family tradition — big or small — to
enjoy for each day. Just keeping up the Christmas feel and people were extra kind this season too! :) It’s holiday!

Toast for us for keeping Christ as the center of our day, in every-days and in holidays that happen throughout the year!

I was re-reading my drafts when I saw this unfinished article about Christmas dated a year ago, maybe then I didn't have any more ideas that's why I wouldn't be able to finish writing it. Excuses!

Anyway, I can't believe how the time is flying in...it's going to be Christmas before we know it! Happy Holidays! Whatever type of holiday celebrations you'll be having!!Cheers!

Inked with Love and Passion,

Simply Princess

12122013

I have fun writing this one maybe because of my meaningful backgroundsongs:

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Simply Princess is ..

...a blogger who loves Japan beyond anime and Korea beyond KPOP. She is passionate in different cultures and races but she believe that Japan is her first love and Korea is her soul mate . She works as a Sr. Software Quality Assurance Engineer and when not geeking out over work she's geeking out over film, vegan food, technology, people and culture of Japan and Korea, she has an unhealthy addiction to anime, manga and K-drama.